Essential Skills and Traits of Successful Maintenance Planners and Schedulers - Part 4: Earning Respect on the Plant Floor

What makes a great Planner or Scheduler? In this series, we explore the key traits that drive successâone post at a time. From self-motivation to communication skills, follow along and share with your team.
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Being a maintenance planner isnât just about creating job plans and schedulesâitâs about building trust and respect with the people who are going to carry out those plans. Technicians, supervisors, and other team members need to know youâve got their back and that your plans arenât just âgood on paperâ but actually workable in the real world. Here are five practical ways planners can earn respect on the plant floor.
1. Spend Time on the Floor (Not Just at Your Desk)
You canât plan effectively if youâve never seen the job site. Spending time on the floor shows technicians and supervisors that you care about their work environment and the challenges they are going to face when performing the work, so you want to get out there and make the very best plan possible.
- Example: Instead of just relying on reports, you visit the site where the pump replacement will happen. You see the tight access space firsthand and adjust your job plan accordingly.
- Why It Works: When the crew sees you making the effort to understand their workspace, they know youâre planning with their reality in mindânot just theory. If the first words out of technician's mouths when describing a planner is "desk jockey", we have a serious problem!
2. Ask for Inputâand Actually Listen
Youâre the planner, but the technicians are the ones turning wrenches. Their insights are invaluable.
- Example: Before finalizing a job plan, you ask a senior technician, âHey, does this workflow make sense, or do you see any roadblocks I should adjust this job plan for?â
- Why It Works: When people see their expertise is valued, theyâre more likely to trust and follow your plans.
3. Own Your Mistakes (And Fix Them Fast)
Everyone messes up, but the way you handle mistakes can either build or break trust.
- Example: You realize you missed an important work step in a recent job plan. Instead of ignoring it, you own up: âThat was my oversightâIâve corrected it, and Iâll double-check similar tasks going forward.â
- Why It Works: Admitting mistakes shows integrity and fixing them shows accountabilityâboth essential for earning respect.
4. Follow Through on Your Promises
Nothing kills trust faster than empty promises. If you say youâll do something, do it.
- Example: A supervisor asks for an extra inspection step to be included in the next job plan. You tell them, âGot it, Iâll add it and send the updated plan by tomorrow.â Thenâyou actually do it. When technicians have taken the time to provide you with feedback after a job, then you make sure that feedback gets edited on the job plan for next time!
- Why It Works: Reliability builds trust. When people know they can count on you, theyâll respect your plans.
5. Speak Their Language
You donât need to be a master technician, but knowing some basic maintenance terms goes a long way.
- Example: Instead of saying, âThat machine thingy needs fixing,â you say, âThe actuator on the east-side hydraulic press needs recalibration.â
- Why It Works: Speaking their language shows respect for their expertise and makes communication smoother.
Final Thought: Respect Is Earned, Not Assigned
Respect isnât something you get just because your job title says Planner. Itâs something you earn through consistency, humility, and genuine effort. When you show technicians and supervisors that you value their time, expertise, and feedback, you become more than just someone handing them a scheduleâyou become a trusted partner in keeping the plant running smoothly. And thatâs when the magic happens
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